There is no evidence that the man killed by police in an incident that sparked the London riots opened fire at police officers before he was shot dead, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said this evening.
Mark Duggan (29) was killed by armed officers last Thursday in Ferry Lane, Tottenham, north London, after they stopped the minicab he was in to carry out an arrest as part of a pre-planned operation.
A statement issued by the IPCC said ballistic test results indicated no evidence that Mr Duggan opened fire at police officers before he was shot dead.
The IPCC has confirmed that two shots were fired by one CO19 firearms officer and said that a non-police issue handgun was recovered from the scene.
A post mortem examination concluded that Mr Duggan was killed by a single gun shot wound to the chest. He also received a second gunshot wound to his right bicep.
The IPCC commissioned tests by the Forensic Science Service (FSS) who have so far confirmed that:
• The bullet lodged in the MPS radio is a "jacketed round". This is a police issue bullet and, whilst it is still subject to DNA analysis, it is consistent with having been fired from an MPS Heckler and Koch MP5.
• The firearm found at the scene was a converted BBM 'Bruni' self loading pistol. This is not a replica; the scientist considers it to be a firearm for the purposes of the Firearms Act and a prohibited weapon and is therefore illegal.
• The handgun was found to have a "bulleted cartridge" in the magazine, which is being subject to further tests.
At this stage there is no evidence that the handgun found at the scene was fired during the incident.
An inquest into Mr Duggan's death heard he died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.
The inquest which opened this morning at North London Coroner’s Court in High Barnet heard that the father-of-four died of a single gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at 6.41pm on Thursday evening.
Colin Sparrow, deputy senior investigator for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), told the brief hearing that their “complex investigation” could take four to six months.
Coroner for the Northern District of Greater London Andrew Walker adjourned the hearing to December 12th when a pre-inquest review will be held.
Mr Walker told members of Mr Duggan’s family, including his fiancee Semone Wilson: “Can I just offer my deepest sympathies to the family of Mark Duggan.
“As members of the family will know, in due course there will be an inquest touching the death of Mark Duggan and this is the first stage in that process.
“Of course, as well as offering our deepest sympathies to members of the family, I would like to reassure members of the family that we will be working closely with the IPCC throughout the process.”
PA